First trip out with 40c

[BLACKDOG83]

Today was my first trip to the range with my 40c. I have one problem with it that I haven't had with any other of my m&p's (I also have shield 9mm and mp 45). When you empty a magazine and the slide locks back, and you put a new magazine in, the lever to push the slide back and chamber a round is super hard to push down. I can't do it with one thumb. Also when shooting from a rest, it's 4" low and 4" left @ 30 feet. Any help/advice would be appreciated. This is my 3rd mp and haven't had problems with either of the first two.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Rather than start a new Thread, how 'bout spending an hour and read through this Thread!

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/420880-disappointed-new-m-p-9-a.html

 

[BLACKDOG83]

Rather than start a new Thread, how 'bout spending an hour and read through this Thread!



http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/420880-disappointed-new-m-p-9-a.html

I'm not talking about a 9, I'm taking about a 40. And I did read that thread. Like I stated my other 2 m&p's don't have this problem. Call it a slide lock, slide release, whatever you want. My 45 and shield 9 you press down on the release with no problem and it moves the slide foward and chambers a round. I'm not saying I'm unhappy with the gun, just wondering why this one does this and my other ones don't.

 

[dajogejr]

Machining tolerances, wear, etc.\
Either way, bad habit and I leave the "thumb down" to hollywood.

 

[lhump1961]

The slide should release like the others you have. I have a 40c and a 357c and both release properly. Might be worth a call to Smith.

 

[myesio]

Blackdog, I had a full size 40 that worked as it should. My 40c has had the same stiff slide release from day one. After being pissed about the issue at first, I came to like the positive locking of the slide. My work around has been to make a habit of using my mag insertion hand reach up with the thumb on one side and middle finger on the other to grab both sides of the ambi slide catch levers. I assume that some day (if I start shooting it more) the lever will wear itself in for one digit release. As far as the low left, I was all over the place until I found the happy place on the trigger finger that didn't move the front site off target (through dry firing). It also helped to move the target closer, like beginner close, 'til I got used to the shorter barrel. Hey, we all know each piece has it's own shooting characteristics. this one, for me, took some time to learn

 

[N4KVE]

The slide should release like the others you have. I have a 40c and a 357c and both release properly. Might be worth a call to Smith.

To do what? Fix something that isn't broken? The fact that his first 2 guns do something they're not supposed to do is a bonus, but to be upset the 3rd gun doesn't do that, & expecting the mfr to modify a gun to do the same thing is unheard of. GARY

 

[MSG Glenn]

If you look at page 12 of the owner's manual you'll see that the lever is called a "slide stop" not a "slide release". Then go to page 16 & read the bottom paragraph you'll see that it says -

"Pull the slide back to the rear and release it, allowing it to carry fully forward. This strips the cartridge from the magazine and seats it in the chamber of the barrel."

It never mentions the slide stop as a slide release. Although there's nothing wrong with the pistol if the slide stop allows you to use it as a slide release my rule of thumb has always been that if a part is hard to move in a position that wasn't intended I won't move it. That particular part has the tension of the extended recoil spring behind it it when the slide is locked open. It's possible with use that it'll be easier to move in a position that will release the slide that means (to me) that there's some wear going on & a loss of material. The slingshot method to release the slide & put the pistol in battery ready to shoot is my preferred method even though with a couple of thousand rounds through my 40c the slide stop is easier to use.

By the way - any info you get from someone with a 9C or even a full size M&P is completely valid in regard to a 40C. The 9C & 40C are identical except for the barrel & magazines & I believe maybe the recoil spring.

Almost forgot to mention your shot placement problem. According to my handgun accuracy chart low & left is "tightening grip while pulling trigger". Low alone is breaking wrist down, pushing forward or dropping head. Left alone is "squeezing thumb or too much trigger finger". That's shooter error. Can't help you if it 's a mechanical error or sight error.

 

[Shoo2tr]

A while back my new 40c needed warranty work as the trigger pull was considerably out of spec. I enclosed a note for S&W with the the pistol also asking the armorer if he would address the stiff slide stop issue knowing there was a real possibility my request would be ignored as by design it was intended to be a slide stop and not a slide release. Now I know this was an easy home fix, but my intent was to ascertain if S&W had an issue with this modification.

Apparently there was no issue as my 40c came home not only with a beautiful trigger, but also a functioning slide release. That tells me that for those that want a slide release, it's obviously not a big deal and shouldn't be a warranty voiding issue.

 

[BLACKDOG83]

If you look at page 12 of the owner's manual you'll see that the lever is called a "slide stop" not a "slide release". Then go to page 16 & read the bottom paragraph you'll see that it says -

"Pull the slide back to the rear and release it, allowing it to carry fully forward. This strips the cartridge from the magazine and seats it in the chamber of the barrel."

It never mentions the slide stop as a slide release. Although there's nothing wrong with the pistol if the slide stop allows you to use it as a slide release my rule of thumb has always been that if a part is hard to move in a position that wasn't intended I won't move it. That particular part has the tension of the extended recoil spring behind it it when the slide is locked open. It's possible with use that it'll be easier to move in a position that will release the slide that means (to me) that there's some wear going on & a loss of material. The slingshot method to release the slide & put the pistol in battery ready to shoot is my preferred method even though with a couple of thousand rounds through my 40c the slide stop is easier to use.

By the way - any info you get from someone with a 9C or even a full size M&P is completely valid in regard to a 40C. The 9C & 40C are identical except for the barrel & magazines & I believe maybe the recoil spring.

Almost forgot to mention your shot placement problem. According to my handgun accuracy chart low & left is "tightening grip while pulling trigger". Low alone is breaking wrist down, pushing forward or dropping head. Left alone is "squeezing thumb or too much trigger finger". That's shooter error. Can't help you if it 's a mechanical error or sight error.

Thanks MSG for the information. This is a brand new gun and it was my first trip out. Although I do usually grab the slide, I did use the "slide stop" as a "slide release" checking the pistol out as it was brand new. I noticed it was impossible to push down with one thumb and my other two mp's it pushed down no prob, even brand new. As far as being off target that is something I need to work on as far as technique and getting used to a new gun. I don't blame the pistol at all for me shooting low and left.